UN wrangles over disabled

A New Zealand diplomat chairing a United Nations ad hoc committee on equal rights for the disabled says objections by the United States and six other countries could scuttle an agreement.

Negotiations on the first human rights treaty of the 21st century began in 2002 and entered a final round this week. Advocates hope the General Assembly will adopt it at its 61st session, which starts next month.

But New Zealand Ambassador Don Mckay said there would be no treaty if there was no agreement on a monitoring mechanism, which the US and other states objected to because it might increase the burden on regulators and pressure Governments to constantly report back.

- NZPA